Arm support



Aug. 14, 1962 R. c. FUSCHETTI ARM SUPPORT Filed April 6, 1959 INVENTOR.

RAYMOND FUSCHETTI ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,049,130 Patented Aug. 14, 1962 3,049,130 ARM SUPPORT Raymond C. Fuschetti, Hingham, Mass. (107 Harrington Ave., Greenville, SC.) Filed Apr. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 804,308 4 Claims. (Cl. 1321) The present invention relates in general to arm supports and more particularly concerns a novel article of manufacture for supporting the upper arms in a generally horizontal position. The support is light weight, relatively easy to fabricate, low in cost, and especially useful for relieving arm fatigue of a woman Who styles her own hair.

For a number of years, home permanent wave kits have been very popular with many women because attractive hair styling may be obtained at relatively low cost. However, the time required for a woman to complete a home permanent is considerable since each curl must be individually formed by appropriately inserting a curler. As a result, the arms remain extended above the shoulders for long periods of time and become extremely tired. In addition, a large number of time-consuming movements are required to grasp the individual curlers from a dressing table and insert them into the hair.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates and has as an important object reducing the arm fatigue of a woman styling her own hair.

Another object of. the invention is to provide means helpful in reducing the time-motion product in connection with styling ones hair by reducing the extent of arm motion involved in transferring pin curlers from a receptacle to the hair.

It is still another object of the invention to achieve the preceding objects with a low-cost light-weight structure of simple form.

According to the invention, the novel arm support is made of substantially rigid material and formed with a central portion adapted to rest upon the shoulders and bear against the back of the neck and end portions which fit underneath each upper arm. As a result, the generally horizontal force applied by the back of the neck and the upward force applied by the shoulders to the central portion is transmitted by the arm support to the end portions which apply upward supporting forces to the undersurface of the upper arms.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of downward opening shoulder rests extending from the central portion for more evenly distributing the weight upon the shoulders.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a cup-shaped member attached to the central portion for accommodating curlers, hair-pins and the like so that a woman need only reach the short distance behind her neck to obtain the different items to be inserted into her hair.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a woman whose upper arms are being supported by an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and,

FIGS. 2-4 are side, top and back views respectively thereof.

With reference to the drawing, the invention is seen in use by a woman giving herself a home permanent. The specific embodiment shown is essentially a unitary structure with generally rounded surfaces to avoid sharp edges and minimize discomfort to the wearer. The central portion 11 rests against the back of the neck 12 and has end portions 13 and 14 curving downward with generally horizontal portions 15 and 16, respectively, supporting the underside of the upper arms 17 and 18, respectively. The end portions 13 and 14 are shown as hook-shaped portions opening upward to provide a snug support for the upper arms. Downwardly opening shoulder rests 21 and 22 depend from the central portion 11. A receptacle 23 is shown attached to the rear of the central portion 11 with pin curlers 24 residing therein.

The invention provides a convenient means for supporting the upper arms in a horizontal position for long periods of time to materially reduce the arm fatigue of a woman styling her own hair. Moreover, the conveniently located receptacle minimizes the extent of arm movements required to insert the pin curlers into the hair. In addition to these advantages, the novel structure is relatively easy to fabricate and low in cost.

The particular shape described herein may be modified in numerous ways. It may be advantageous to increase the surface areas in contact with the arms, neck and shoulders to reduce the pressure developed over the contact areas. Padding may also be inserted between the structure and the adjacent body areas.

Although the receptacle 24 and the shoulder rests 21 and 22 are shown integrally formed with the remaining structure, it is evident that they may be separately attached by any of numerous well-known means within the scope of the invention. A plastic material of any of the well-known types which is substantially rigid but has a certain degree of flexibility is preferable for embodying the invention, it being evident that numerous other different types of material may be utilized.

It is evident that those skilled in the art may now make numerous modifications of and departures from the specific embodiment described herein without departing from the inventive concepts. Consequently, the invention is to be construed as limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of manufacture for supporting the upper arms in a generally horizontal position comprising, a substantially rigid member formed with a central portion which normally rests against the rear of the neck and upon the shoulders of a person wearing said article, and end portions connected to and separated by said central portion, said end portions including a generally horizontal portion or pressing upward on the underside of said upper arms whereby generally horizontal and upward forces are applied from the back of said neck and said shoulders respectively to said central portion and transmitted by said article to said end portions for imparting upward supporting forces to said upper arms, said end portions being substantially rigid and fixed with respect to said central portion, the horizontal projection of said central portion in the horizontal plane being generally U-shaped opening to the forward side of said person when wearing said article, the projections of said end portions in the horizontal plane being generally U-shaped opening to the rear side of said person When Wearing said article.

2. An article of manufacture in accordance with claim 1 wherein said end portions are hook-shaped segments opening upward.

3. An article of manufacture in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising shoulder rests extending downward from said central portion adapted to engage the shoulders of said person.

4. An article of manufacture in accordance With claim 1 and further comprising, a receptacle attached to said central portion for'accommodating items for use in connection with styling the hair of a person Wearing said article of manufacture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 132,795 Sommers June 16, 1942. 2,452,400 Stevens Oct. 26, 1948 2,583,803 Amer Jan. 29, 1952 10 2,986,314 Miller May 30, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 83,946 Norway July 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,049,130 August 14. 1962 Raymond C, Fuschetti It is hereby certified the ent requiring correction and th corrected below.

t error appears in the above numbered patat the seidLetters Patent should read as Column 2 line 55, for "or" read for Signed and sealed this-4th day of December 1962,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

